Body repair shop has damaged my car...
Discussion
Here's the story.
A few weeks back I was stationary in my car and got clipped by an idiot causing some scuffing to my rear bumper - we got his reg and the police tracked him down, a few phonecalls later and he agrees to pay. All ok so far, if mildly irritating.
Fast forward a week or so and I take the car to my local accident repair place (a main dealer repair shop), and have them inspect, and quote for the damage. Quote seems reasonable - I call the idiot, and he says "fine" with the price. Again, all ok.
A few days later, I droop the car off at the accident repair place, they keep the car for two days to effect the repair. Likewise, ok.
Two days later, I arrive to collect the car, and there it is outside. It's raining. I immediately go over to the corner that's been repaired and give it a once over...looks ok, hard to tell in the rain. Bumper shut lines are different. Anyways, I cast my eye over the rest of the bumper and...wow. Let me explain - I have a tow bar fitted to my vehicle. I should also point out that it's used for a bike carrier, so has a large "back plate". It covers a significant area.
The repair place have obviously not protected the black plastic "diffuser" part of the bumper during removal/reinstallation and thoroughly scratched it. It's trashed - there is no way someone with eyes could possibly miss it, and it looks like they have really struggled to get the bumper on/off.
I immediately point this out to the guy behind the counter...he already looks sheepish - he comes out to take a look. I'll paraphrase the conversation but it goes something like this:
Me: "Look at this damage. That wasn't there when I dropped the car off."
Service Guy: "Are you sure?"
Me: "Absolutely. The tow bar has been fitted since new and there is no opportunity for anything to scratch that area with it in place. It's clearly been done by removing/replacing the bumper - the marks line up exactly."
Service Guy:"OK. I'm very sorry about that, I'll order you a new one and replace it. I call you when it's in"
Me: "Thanks."
A week or so goes by and I get a call.
Repair Guy: "Your bumper part has arrived, it should take about 15 mins to fit, when would you like it fitted?"
Me: "Friday?"
Repair Guy: "Can't do Friday, we finish early and are busy all morning."
I'm in a meeting that this point so elect to call him back later when I can check my schedule.
The next day my wife calls Repair Guy to arrange fitting.
Repair Guy: "Yep, we've decided not to replace the part as it's £180. We're going to spray it with textured paint instead."
My Wife: "Ah...I'll call you back."
So that's where I am.
I'm not petty, if this were a small mark I'd just let it slide, but it's too obvious, they have really damaged it. I also don't rate their chances of spraying what is quite a flexible plastic part with some textured paint. I think I've got a right to have my car come out an accident repair place with less damage than when it went in. I also think his comment of "we've decided not to replace the part as it's £180" is outrageous. I don't care how much the part is - you break it, you bought it pal.
Where do I stand? As far as I'm concerned he's admitted liability by offering to fix it in the 1st place. Also, I dont see how he can claim it was damaged before I bought it in (he's not yet done this) because: A. He would have spotted it on his assessment form. B. I would have asked them to fix it in the 1st instance.
Any help you guys can give would be much appreciated!
A few weeks back I was stationary in my car and got clipped by an idiot causing some scuffing to my rear bumper - we got his reg and the police tracked him down, a few phonecalls later and he agrees to pay. All ok so far, if mildly irritating.
Fast forward a week or so and I take the car to my local accident repair place (a main dealer repair shop), and have them inspect, and quote for the damage. Quote seems reasonable - I call the idiot, and he says "fine" with the price. Again, all ok.
A few days later, I droop the car off at the accident repair place, they keep the car for two days to effect the repair. Likewise, ok.
Two days later, I arrive to collect the car, and there it is outside. It's raining. I immediately go over to the corner that's been repaired and give it a once over...looks ok, hard to tell in the rain. Bumper shut lines are different. Anyways, I cast my eye over the rest of the bumper and...wow. Let me explain - I have a tow bar fitted to my vehicle. I should also point out that it's used for a bike carrier, so has a large "back plate". It covers a significant area.
The repair place have obviously not protected the black plastic "diffuser" part of the bumper during removal/reinstallation and thoroughly scratched it. It's trashed - there is no way someone with eyes could possibly miss it, and it looks like they have really struggled to get the bumper on/off.
I immediately point this out to the guy behind the counter...he already looks sheepish - he comes out to take a look. I'll paraphrase the conversation but it goes something like this:
Me: "Look at this damage. That wasn't there when I dropped the car off."
Service Guy: "Are you sure?"
Me: "Absolutely. The tow bar has been fitted since new and there is no opportunity for anything to scratch that area with it in place. It's clearly been done by removing/replacing the bumper - the marks line up exactly."
Service Guy:"OK. I'm very sorry about that, I'll order you a new one and replace it. I call you when it's in"
Me: "Thanks."
A week or so goes by and I get a call.
Repair Guy: "Your bumper part has arrived, it should take about 15 mins to fit, when would you like it fitted?"
Me: "Friday?"
Repair Guy: "Can't do Friday, we finish early and are busy all morning."
I'm in a meeting that this point so elect to call him back later when I can check my schedule.
The next day my wife calls Repair Guy to arrange fitting.
Repair Guy: "Yep, we've decided not to replace the part as it's £180. We're going to spray it with textured paint instead."
My Wife: "Ah...I'll call you back."
So that's where I am.
I'm not petty, if this were a small mark I'd just let it slide, but it's too obvious, they have really damaged it. I also don't rate their chances of spraying what is quite a flexible plastic part with some textured paint. I think I've got a right to have my car come out an accident repair place with less damage than when it went in. I also think his comment of "we've decided not to replace the part as it's £180" is outrageous. I don't care how much the part is - you break it, you bought it pal.
Where do I stand? As far as I'm concerned he's admitted liability by offering to fix it in the 1st place. Also, I dont see how he can claim it was damaged before I bought it in (he's not yet done this) because: A. He would have spotted it on his assessment form. B. I would have asked them to fix it in the 1st instance.
Any help you guys can give would be much appreciated!
Seeing as it's a main dealer, I would go over their head and seek compensation. At the very least you should expect the car to be returned in the condition you left it in. They have a duty to look after the car, and will be insured for such events.
The assessment checklist, as you rightly mention, is your proof here.
The assessment checklist, as you rightly mention, is your proof here.
sherbert90 said:
Seeing as it's a main dealer, I would go over their head and seek compensation. At the very least you should expect the car to be returned in the condition you left it in. They have a duty to look after the car, and will be insured for such events.
The assessment checklist, as you rightly mention, is your proof here.
Compensation?The assessment checklist, as you rightly mention, is your proof here.
Yeah, compensation as in having the new part fitted to the vehicle with no hassle.. Compensation as in £1000s for hardship, I do hope you were joking.
JonnyFive said:
Compensation?
Yeah, compensation as in having the new part fitted to the vehicle with no hassle.. Compensation as in £1000s for hardship, I do hope you were joking.
Poor choice of words. I wasn't suggesting he should seek £1000's, i was thinking more along the lines of getting it sorted as soon as possible.Yeah, compensation as in having the new part fitted to the vehicle with no hassle.. Compensation as in £1000s for hardship, I do hope you were joking.
sherbert90 said:
JonnyFive said:
Compensation?
Yeah, compensation as in having the new part fitted to the vehicle with no hassle.. Compensation as in £1000s for hardship, I do hope you were joking.
Poor choice of words. I wasn't suggesting he should seek £1000's, i was thinking more along the lines of getting it sorted as soon as possible.Yeah, compensation as in having the new part fitted to the vehicle with no hassle.. Compensation as in £1000s for hardship, I do hope you were joking.
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